Six Focuses on Foundations

[Mr.Six]

For me, the last challenge was about finding my limits.

This challenge will be aimed at building my foundation.

 

Goal 1: Bodyweight exercises daily with an emphasis on form.

 

Goal 2: Yoga or stretching every other day.

 

Goal 3: Devote time to job search.

 

Goal 4: Practice the Wim Hof Method daily followed by meditation.

 

I had created a much more complex challenge, but I'm hesitant to overcommit because life happens. If you want to peek at my Avatar styled challenge you can check out my spreadsheet

here.

 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

[Pherales]

Foundation building is great once you know exactly how far you can push to begin with,.  I have an issue with overcommitment too, so I feel you on that front very awesome challenge goals all round.

[Miw_Sher]

Foundation is important. Something about having a solid foundation to jump from.

That is a quote from a book or a movie that I really loved, I never was able to figure out where it came from, though.

[Miw_Sher]

(Loving your Elements theme, by the way)

[Hobbitron]

Do you have a plan to use the Wim Hof method ? I've read about it and watched a show on Netflix about him .... kinda amazing!!

[Mr.Six]

7 hours ago, Miw_Sher said:

(Loving your Elements theme, by the way)

It may be resurrected later in the challenge if I am completing my macro goals in addition to the four-week goals... 

 

 

[Mr.Six]

1 hour ago, Hobbitron said:

 

Do you have a plan to use the Wim Hof method ? I've read about it and watched a show on Netflix about him .... kinda amazing!!

 

 

 

Wim Hof and his feats are pretty incredible.

 

Wim's Method is three essentially three-pronged: gradual cold exposure, breathing exercises, and stretching.  I did buy the app, but I don't know that it's necessarily worth it since much of the information is available online or through the library...  But this is what I am working on right now:

• Cold: Each day I try to take a cold shower when I am getting ready or after work.  I have also done some environmental cold exposure (eg. meditation outside following a workout).

• Breathing Exercises: I've made a habit of doing breathing exercises and holding my breath before meditating each night.  
  • I actually include the stretching in this routine too, because it flows well with the early parts of the breathing exercises and helps me get relaxed before meditation.

I've actually seen some pretty cool changes already.  My resting heart rate during meditation is in the low 50 bmp's (before it had been in the high 60's/70's).  I also have a noticeably better cold tolerance already but want to focus on my hands and feet more.  Even if all of the cold-resistance business is in my head, the breathing and meditation helps to manage the stress I am experiencing right now.

[Hobbitron]

That's awesome! 

Low 50s rhr is umm incredible  

Are you training for an event with this method? 

[Mr.Six]

46 minutes ago, Hobbitron said:

Are you training for an event with this method?

Nothing in particular, but I'm excited to see if it has an impact on my VO2.  

 

Wim has a theory that you are actually strengthening your circulatory and nervous systems through his method.  My dad has early-onset Alzheimer's which has been the driving force in my questing.  In a completely non-scientific way, this is an attempt at making myself more anti-fragile in the hope that I don't succumb to the same disease (or at least not as young).

[Miw_Sher]

Huh, I should try the Wim Hof method. If anything it would help me get over my fear of cold.

[Mr.Six]

4 minutes ago, Miw_Sher said:

I should try the Wim Hof method. If anything it would help me get over my fear of cold.

 

As a clearly biased supporter -- I completely agree.  One thing that the WHM stresses is that you can do it gradually.  Turning your shower down to lukewarm at the end and then gradually getting colder over time is a great way to start.  As you expose yourself to colder water and encounter your limits, you can work on breathing and relaxing your body. @Helix "The Peasant" has been doing cold showers and could probably give some insight into his experience too.

[Lilmissbri]

Ah-ha! Here you are! Wanted to support you in your new challenge, but couldn't find ya. Haha.

 

This looks great!! I can't wait till the Avatar challenge gets resurrected. I freaking love Avatar. I'm thinking of doing the theme myself one of these months.

 

Do work, Six!!

[Haikoo]

Hey there! There's nothing wrong with simple goals. Building the small habits is the most important path to success!

[Miw_Sher]

On 08/02/2017 at 6:30 PM, Mr.Six said:

 

As a clearly biased supporter -- I completely agree.  One thing that the WHM stresses is that you can do it gradually.  Turning your shower down to lukewarm at the end and then gradually getting colder over time is a great way to start.  As you expose yourself to colder water and encounter your limits, you can work on breathing and relaxing your body. @Helix "The Peasant" has been doing cold showers and could probably give some insight into his experience too.

That is interesting. I've been wanting to take colder shower for a while.

it's funny because I really do not have a problem with outdoor cold. I like outdoor cold. But indoor cold ..; UGH uGH UGH CRANKY CRANKY CRANKY WHY CANT YOU BUILD¨PROPER ISOLATION YOU RETARDS?

[Guzzi]

Found you!  

 

How are you getting on so far?

[Mr.Six]

On 2/9/2017 at 10:08 AM, Lilmissbri said:

Here you are!

 

41 minutes ago, Guzzi said:

Found you!

 

Sorry to have gone off-grid!  I felt torn during this challenge between Assassin (bodyweight emphasis) and Druid (meditation emphasis) so I went with Rebel.  I absolutely will resurrect the Avatar challenge elements because I like how well it frames up for the 4 week challenge.  Upping my meditation game has helped immensely with my stress levels and I feel like this on a regular basis:

 

So far...I did better in week 0 than I've done in week 1.  I manage to get some guerilla bodyweight exercises in but I need to be better about setting time aside for a full workout.  Also, bummed that I haven't gotten in on the Veggie challenge yet (but I forgot to buy Broccoli this weekend ).

[peelout]

what is a guerilla w/o?

 

[Lilmissbri]

10 hours ago, Mr.Six said:

Also, bummed that I haven't gotten in on the Veggie challenge yet (but I forgot to buy Broccoli this weekend ).

 

Oh my goodness, has this happened to me. No worries. You're among good company. haha. 

 

9 hours ago, peelout said:

what is a guerilla w/o?

 

This ^^

[Mr.Six]

10 hours ago, peelout said:

what is a guerilla w/o?

Sorry for my typo for one thing, but for me a guerrilla workout involves taking advantage of small windows of down time throughout the day to do simple exercises.  I will shamelessly drop down and do push ups in my office.  Or for example, if I head downstairs to throw a load of laundry in the wash,  then I  use it as a chance to do a wall assisted handstand on a vacant basement wall.

 

While I lose out on cardio activation, I can manage to get at least some activity in during the day... 

[taymonsta]

I've never heard of the Wim Hof Method! You've intrigued me and now I'll have to look it up... 

Good luck with your challenges!  You can do it! 

[Miw_Sher]

5 hours ago, Lilmissbri said:

 

Oh my goodness, has this happened to me. No worries. You're among good company. haha. 

No worries, I did exactly two broccoli meals because I am batch cooking for the week; ^^ I keep using them as bases and modifying them so they count as more than one recipe.

 

Next week is a new veggie though, I'll announce it Friday. Unless you'd like me to announce it earlier?

[peelout]

8 hours ago, Mr.Six said:

Sorry for my typo for one thing, but for me a guerrilla workout involves taking advantage of small windows of down time throughout the day to do simple exercises.  I will shamelessly drop down and do push ups in my office.  Or for example, if I head downstairs to throw a load of laundry in the wash,  then I  use it as a chance to do a wall assisted handstand on a vacant basement wall.

 

While I lose out on cardio activation, I can manage to get at least some activity in during the day... 

Excellent way to work in exercise.  

[Mr.Six]

10 hours ago, taymonsta said:

You can do it!

Thank you!

6 hours ago, Miw_Sher said:

No worries, I did exactly two broccoli meals because I am batch cooking for the week; ^^ I keep using them as bases and modifying them so they count as more than one recipe.

 

Next week is a new veggie though, I'll announce it Friday. Unless you'd like me to announce it earlier?

 

Excellent plan!  No need to announce it earlier as we usually do our shopping on Saturday.  I just forgot it when we were at the store and haven't gotten around to working it into our meals this week.

 

[zeroh13]

Cold showers... umm, nope. Not in winter at least. But it's still interesting. Push the body's limits enough, and it will (hopefully) give you new limits to push.

[Miw_Sher]

So how did your week go?